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Fontana delle Tartarughe

Positioned in the heart of the historic centre, the Fountain of Tortoises is indisputably one of Rome’s finest. Built towards the end of the sixteenth century to Giacomo della Porta’s design, it is linked to rather an attractive tale of romance. It is said that the Duke Muzio Mattei, in order to demonstrate his powerful influence to the wealthy father of the woman he loved, had the magnificent fountain built overnight in front of his own windows. The sculptures of the four young adolescents with their hands raised to help the tortoises climb into the basin is attributed to Taddeo Landini, while those of the tortoises was added in 1658 by Bernini. Source: turismoroma.it